Fidel Castro

Cuba

Fidel Castro

Cuba

Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro was born near Biran on August 13, 1926. He ruled Cuba for 50 Years. He established the first socialist state in western Hemisphere after leading a overthrow of military dictatorship of Batista in 1959. He ruled over Cuba for nearly five decades, until handing off power to his brother Raul in 2008. He overthrew Batista, and was sworn in as prime minister of cuba. Castro became passionate about social justice, he traveled to the Dominican Republic to join an expedition to over throw the dictator Rafel Trujillo, It failed. Castro and approximately 150 supporters attacked the Moncada military barracks in an attempt to overthrow Batista, the attempted failed, Castro was captured, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Castro became famous throughout Cuba. Castro was released in 1955 under an amnesty deal with the Batista government. On April 16 Castro formally declared Cuba a socialist state. The following day 1,400 cuban exiles invaded cuba at the bay of pigs, in an attempt to overthrow the Castro regine.

Rare Fidel Castro appearance for Cuba vote

This video clip of Fidel Castro was filmed during the 2013 elections in Cuba where Castro showed up to vote in person. Before this, he had not made a public appearance in three years which made this appearance a big deal for several Cuban citizens. This appearance was most significant because for the past three elections he had casted his vote at home. This video shows Castro casting his vote in public, and the positivity the public reacted with. In this video, Castro speaks highly of the Cuban people and seems to think Cuba is doing well, and is proud of it. Fidel Castro mentions how the Cuban people are revolutionary and can not be defeated which shows his pride in Cuba.

Characteristics of Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro, a tall dark haired man at six feet, three inches, was a very powerful leader. He was the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, the President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008, served as the Commander in chief of the country's armed forces from 1959 to 2008, and was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 up until 2011.

At the height of the CUban missile crisis, Castro recruited former members of the Nazi Waffen SS to train his troops.

Castro was baptized

and raised a Roman Catholic as a child but did not practice as one, though while Castro was in prison for attacks on Moncada Barracks, he wrote letters that suggest he was a man of unusual spiritual depth and a fervent believer in God. In Oliver Stone's documentary Comandante, Castro states "I have never been a believer", and has total conviction that there is only one life. Pope John XXIII banned Castro from Catholic events and activities in 1962 after he ended Catholic institutions and churches in Cuba. About 30 years later,

Castro agreed to loosen restrictions on religion and allow Catholics to join the Cuban Communist Party and bagan describing Cuba as secular instead of atheist.

Many Cubans are very passionate about Castro, and like him as a leader. One Cuban resident states "

Fidel is a very charismatic person who is very well educated."

Fidel Castro is a national hero for many reasons. He is inspiring, these were the best 49 years Cuba has ever had for a long time.

Castro comes from a wealthy family due to the ownership of sugar plantation. Castro was a lawyer who was educated in the US before he became Cuba's dictator which is believed to be a contributor to his leadership/leadership skills and what lead to him becoming a dictator.

Castro spoke greatly about his vision of equality for Cubans and that won people over and gave him power in Cuba.

Castro saw himself as the heir to Jose Marti who was also leading national liberation struggles against foreign dominance, though Castro mostly ran an

autocratic leadership.

By 1958 Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were on a roll. They started in Western Cuba and rolled to Eastern Cuba with less than 1,000 men against Batista. The thing is that every time Fidel arrived at a town, even soldiers would join him and betray Batista. By June 8th 1959, Fidel was in power. Castro also

visited Nikita Khrushchev and the two leaders publicly highlighted the poverty faced by U.S. citizens in areas like Harlem. Castro described New York as a "city of persecution" against black and poor Americans. The relationship between Castro and Khrushchev was very good. Castro and Khrushchev led the applause to one another's speeches at the General Assembly.

Journal entry

Dear People of Cuba,

I will say it, I will yell it, and I will hold it with me until my last day on this earth. "I am a socialist!" I want to be a part of something that will take charge in the future. Isolation is my biggest fear. It can be transformed into insanity. Insanity is so powerful that it will make you loose sense of normality. Well I'm insane in the minds of many, their minds are the same as mine. If we reject the things that we are supposed to believe in, then aren't we all crazy?